BEIJING -- Maintaining economic growth is the major task of China's macroeconomic policies, an official said Friday.

Zhu Zhixin, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission, told a news briefing that China was still confronted with increasing difficulties and risks as the global economy was till reeling after the financial crisis.

China has entered a period of slower growth, but maintaining growth within a "proper range" still drives macroeconomic control, Zhu said.

The government set a 7.5 percent target for growth last year. In the first three quarters, the economy expanded by 7.4 percent year on year. Data for the whole year is expected next Tuesday.

Steady development in 2014 can serve as a solid foundation for growth this year.

Economic growth, employment and price level were all relatively stable and progress was seen in restructuring, growth quality and reform, Zhu said.

China's consumer price index, the main gauge of inflation, rose by 1.5 percent year on year in December, much lower than the government's target of around 3.5 percent.